“I didn’t say I forgave you; I just can’t see you walking in the freezing cold, especially when you’re so tired,” she said as she walked to her room.
The sound of her closing door was the last thing he heard.
The guest suitewas nothing short of opulent, but he supposed you couldn’t be a working elf for years and years and not acquire some wealth. After using the bathroom he stripped off his clothes, pulled back the down comforter and fell into bed. Tomorrow he had issues to deal with, things he’d put off longer than he wanted to. He’d better be prepared and well-rested, he thought just before he closed his eyes and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
CHAPTER8
Bartlett woke slowly. Stretching, he rolled to his back and let his eyes adjust to the shadows of the room. Today was the day it either all came together or fell apart. The last few weeks had been difficult. Merry with her silvery hair, impish smile and contagious laugh was a constant temptation. A distraction he did not need. At a time when so much responsibility was resting on his shoulders he needed to stay focused on his work and not preoccupied by fantasies of spanking his naughty little elf. Oh, she had it coming all right, and he was determined to give her exactly what she deserved. For a while he’d had to put that reckoning on hold, but no more.
Smiling he rolled out of bed and hit the shower. Still a bit tired but feeling more human he grabbed the pair of flannel lounge pants she must have left in his room after he’d fallen asleep. With them riding low on his hips he walked bare-chested to the kitchen.
Thank heavens for K-cups he thought as he put one in the machine and closed the lid. Instantly the reviving aroma of coffee filled him with purpose. He had to be on his toes today. Merry was a wily little thing. She also seemed prone to exaggeration and fibs. He intended to straighten her out right quick as his grandmother would say. A few minutes later she strolled into the kitchen wearing the top to his bottoms, her feet covered with fluffy red socks. The red plaid flannel looked adorable on her, even with the sleeves rolled up many times. He watched her brush her long hair away from her face, revealing her tired eyes.
“Did I wake you?” he asked as he leaned against the counter and watched her closely.
“No, the smell of coffee did,” she replied sleepily as she popped a cup into the machine and waited patiently for it to brew. “Did you sleep well?”
“Like the proverbial log,” he replied. “You?”
“Okay,” she said, getting vanilla flavored cream from the fridge and adding it to her cup. “I get wound up. When I’m under pressure it’s hard for me to settle down,” she explained with a shrug.
“I plan to help you fix that,” he drawled, grinning mysteriously.
“Pardon me?”
“Oh nothing, just thinking out loud. Let’s go into the living room. I’ll build up the fire.”
Nodding she followed him. Sinking onto the sofa she curled her legs up beneath her and cupped her mug with both hands, savoring the warmth.
Bartlett got the fire blazing in short order. Then he picked up a soft throw from a side chair and draped it over her before taking a seat at the other end of the sofa.
“You realize we have to talk,” he informed her calmly.
Merry nodded.
“There are a number of things we need to get settled between us,” he continued.
She nodded again.
Bartlett laughed.
“What?”
“For someone who is usually full of sass, you’re pretty quiet this morning.”
He watched her back stiffen as she sat up straighter.
“You think I’m sassy?” she demanded.
“That would be a major understatement,” he responded with a derisive snort. “You’re the most contrary woman I’ve ever met.” Sipping his coffee he stared at her waiting for a rebuttal. It did not come. Instead she smiled.
“Is that so?” she said in delight. “Yet you’ve done nothing to curb my so-called sassiness.”
“Such as?”
“Well, you’ve threatened to spank me on numerous occasions, yet nothing happened,” she pointed out. “I think you’re full of hot air.”
“Really?” he asked shaking his head. She would go on; he was certain of it. Never had a woman wanted or needed a spanking as much as this particular one did. She was not going to let it go, which suited him just fine. He was unsure what she expected, but he’d lay money it was less than she was going to get.
